Idle session timeout for Microsoft 365 – Microsoft 365 admin

Idle session timeout for Microsoft 365

Important

Idle session timeout isn’t available for Microsoft 365 operated by 21Vianet or Microsoft 365 Germany.

Use idle session timeout to configure a policy on how long users are inactive in your organization before they are signed out of Microsoft 365 web apps. This helps protect sensitive company data and adds another layer of security for end users who work on non-company or shared devices.

When a user reaches the idle timeout session you’ve set, they’ll get a notification that they’re about to be signed out. They have to select to stay signed in or they’ll be automatically signed out of all Microsoft 365 web apps.

Important

Idle session timeout doesn’t affect your Microsoft 365 desktop and mobile apps.

Turn on Idle session timeout

You must be a member of the Global admin, Security admin, Application admin, or Cloud Application admin roles to see the idle session timeout setting.

1. In the Microsoft 365 admin center, select Org Settings -> Security & privacy tab and select Idle session timeout.

2. On the Idle Session Timeout select the toggle to turn it on. You can choose a default setting or choose your own custom time. It’ll take a few minutes before idle session is turned on in your organization.

Note

If you’ve set up idle session timeout policies for Outlook web app and SharePoint Online, turning on idle session timeout in the Microsoft 365 admin center will override the Outlook web app and SharePoint settings.

Idle session timeout is one of the many security measures in Microsoft 365. To learn about other security tasks in Microsoft 365, see Top security tasks in Microsoft 365.

What users will see

When a user has been inactive in Microsoft 365 web apps for the time period you chose, they’ll see the following prompt. They have to select Stay signed in or they’ll be signed out.

Details about idle session timeout

• The following Microsoft 365 web apps are supported. More web apps will be added soon.

  • Outlook Web App

  • OneDrive for Business

  • SharePoint Online (SPO)

  • Microsoft365.com and other start pages

  • Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) on the web

  • Microsoft 365 admin center

• Activity refers to any client-side user interaction happening in the context of the web app. For example, mouse clicks and keyboard presses.

• Idle session timeout works on a per-browser session basis. A user’s activity on Microsoft Edge is treated differently than their activity in other browsers such as Google Chrome. Users will be signed out from all tabs corresponding to their account within that browser session.

• Once you turn on idle session timeout, it applies to your entire organization and can’t be scoped to specific users, organizational units, or groups. Use Azure AD Conditional Access policies for different users and groups to access SharePoint and Exchange Online.

• Users must be inactive on all Microsoft 365 web app tabs for the configured duration. If the user is active on one tab (say OWA) while being inactive on another tab (say SPO), they will be considered active and will not be signed out.

• Users won’t get signed out in these cases.

  • If they get single sign-on (SSO) into the web app from the device joined account.
  • If they selected Stay signed in at the time of sign-in. For more info on hiding this option for your organization, see Add branding to your organization’s sign-in page.
  • If they’re on a managed device (one that is compliant or joined to a domain) and using a supported browser like Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome (with the Windows Accounts extension).

Trigger idle session timeout only on unmanaged devices

By default, the idle session timeout feature triggers on all device types if the other conditions are met. For this feature to trigger only on an unmanaged device, an eligible Azure AD Premium P1 or P2 subscription is required. You’ll also need to add a Conditional Access policy in the Azure AD admin center.

Idle session timeout on unmanaged devices

For idle session timeout to get triggered only on unmanaged devices, you’ll need to add a Conditional Access policy in the Azure AD admin center.

1. On the Conditional Access | Policies page of the Azure AD admin center, select New policy and enter a name for the policy.

2. Select Users or workload identities, and then select All users.

3. Select Cloud apps or actions, Select apps, and search for Office 365. Select Office 365, and then Select.

4. Select Conditions, Client apps, Configure to Yes, Browser, and then select Done.

5. Select Session, Use app enforced restrictions, and then Select.

6. Turn on the policy and select Create.

Frequently asked questions

Are there any browsers or browser scenarios in which idle session timeout feature doesn’t work?

Idle session timeout isn’t supported when third party cookies are disabled in the browser. Users won’t see any sign-out prompts. We recommend keeping tracking prevention setting to Balanced (Default) for Microsoft Edge, and third-party cookies enabled in your other browsers. Microsoft 365 apps and services have stopped supporting Internet Explorer 11 since August 17, 2021.

How should I prepare if my organization is already using existing Outlook web app and SharePoint Online idle timeout policies?

If you’re already using existing Outlook web app and SharePoint Online idle timeout policies, you can still turn on idle session timeout feature. When you turn on the idle timeout policy, it takes precedence over the existing Outlook web app and SharePoint Online policies. We’re planning to deprecate the existing Outlook web app and SharePoint Online policies in the near future. To better prepare your organization, we recommend you turn on idle session timeout.

What happens if I am inactive on an included Microsoft 365 web app, but active on a Microsoft web app or SaaS web app that doesn’t have idle session timeout turned on?

The following Microsoft 365 apps are supported.

• Outlook Web App

• OneDrive for Business

• SharePoint Online (SPO)

• Microsoft365.com and other start pages

• Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) on the web

• Microsoft 365 admin center

If you’re working on a different web app with the same account, the activity in that web app won’t be applied to the idle session timeout.

I want to make changes to the idle session timeout policy or delete it. How can I do that?

Update the policy:

1. In the Microsoft 365 admin center, select Org settings, go to the Security & Privacy tab and select Idle session timeout.

2. In the dropdown menu, select a different timeout value and then Save.

Delete the policy:

1. In the Microsoft 365 admin center, select Org settings, go to the Security & Privacy tab and select Idle session timeout.

2. Uncheck Turn on to set the period of inactivity for users to be signed off of Microsoft 365 apps and select Save.

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